Parliamentary Question: Publication of Reports

25th February 2003

432. Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will publish the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture which visited Irish places of detention and custody in May 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5323/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): The Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), which operates under the aegis of the Council of Europe, was established under the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment in 1987. The committee is composed of lawyers, medical doctors, prison experts, parliamentarians, etc. from the member states and carries out its task by periodic and ad hoc visits. During these visits, the committee has the right of unimpeded access at any time of the day or night to any place where persons are detained, whether it be a prison, a Garda station or a mental hospital, and are entitled to speak in private to any detained person.

The CPT visited Ireland for inspection purposes in May of last year and the report to the Irish Government on this visit was received in my Department recently. In line with the provisions of the convention, the Government has a timeframe of six months to respond to the CPT on the findings in the report. It is expected that the report and proposed responses to the findings will be brought to Government in the near future.

In line with the policy of previous Governments, I expect to publish the report along with the responses to the findings once these have been approved by Government and conveyed to the CPT.